In vivo effects of five secretin analogs on fluid and potassium secretion from the rat pancreas

The importance of the N-terminal part of the secretin molecule for inducing fluid and potassium secretion from the pancreas was tested on anesthetized rats by comparing the biological capacity of bolus intravenous injections of secretin, secretin analogs, and the secretin (7–27) fragment. Except in one case, the relative potencies with which these peptides influenced fluid secretion correlated with the potencies on potassium secretion. [Glu³]secretin and [Asn³]secretin were 2–3 and 14 times less potent, respectively, than secretin. [Ala⁴]secretin, [D-Ala⁴]secretin and secretin were almost equipotent. [Val⁵]secretin was as potent as secretin on water secretion but 2-fold less potent on potassium secretion. Secretin (7–27) was at best a very weak agonist of secretin.